Western Foxes News

WESTERN FOXES WIN IT ALL!

The Western Foxes, have gone from being the first “full kit” womens Gridiron team in Victorian history, to now being the first Champions of the Gridiron Victoria 2013 Womens League, with a comprehensive 32-8 victory over the Northern Lady Raiders.

Played at Ranger Field in Croydon, the inaugural Womens competition championship was going to be a hard fought match. The Western Foxes, scored a touchdown on their first drive, but failed on the conversion, making the score 6-0. The Lady Raiders offense took the field and were able march the ball down the field for a touchdown and a conversion, making the score 8-6. This was the First time the Foxes have been behind on the scoreboard at any time this season.

Both the Western Foxes Offense and Defense made any corrections that they needed to make and began to fire on all cylinders. The Foxes Defense made some big plays, big stops and a couple of turnovers, giving the ball back to the Foxes offense, who were hungry to put more points on the board, and the did, scoring two more times making the score 20-8 at half time.

The Western Foxes coaching staff demanded more effort and discipline in the second half from the players, to make sure that the second half effort was just as intense as the first half. The second half performances of the Foxes over the last couple of games, needed improvement, with players “switching off”, leading to sub par perfomances. Also, having the thought of going through the season undefeated, but losing the Grand Final was something that the Foxes would not tolerate. The players would not accept a “wasted opportunity” like this.

There was no problem with focus from the Foxes players for the second half of this game, the Foxes Defense, taking up where it had left off making some huge stops, even when their backs where against the wall, with the ball virtually on their goal line, they still managed to hold the Lady Raiders Offense out of the endzone for the whole second half.

The Foxes offense didn’t make use off all of their opportunities, but still managed to score twice more in the second half, including a siren beating Touchdown pass. The Western Foxes, finishing the season, undefeated champions with a 32-8 Victory.

# 89, Jasmyne “Jazz” Drewry, was named the games Most Valuable Player, for her duties on both Offense and Defense.

WESTERN FOXES IN THE NEWS!

Foxes Start the season with a Bang!

The Western Foxes, the first, the original, womens full kit Gridiron team in Victoria, played the Melbourne University Chargers in the first Womens competition, regular season club match in Gridiron Victoria history on Sunday at Henry Turner Reserve in Footscray.

Ash West & “Dolly” Gedye celebrate a touchdown

The game started in less than ideal conditions as the heavens opened up and heavy rain started to pour down, just before the opening kickoff. The Chargers started the game with the ball on the 35 yard Line. Western Foxes Defensive Co Ordinator, Shelly Roth’s Defense held firm and forced a turnover on downs with only minimal yards gained. The Western Foxes Offense didn’t start the same way, with the rain and conditions causing a fumble on the very first play on the Foxes drive. Again the Foxes Defense stood firm, forcing the Chargers to fumble on their first play of the drive.

The weather cleared and with all the fumbles out of the way, the Foxes offense then went to work, running the ball with power and control with a very successful drive to open up the scoring with a short run to Foxes running back, #33 Kaseyanne Hurley. The Foxes were successful with the 2 point conversion making the score 8-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter started with the Foxes Defense standing up. #13 Brietta Patman, #91 Tima Matia and #15 Angela Porras, getting into the action, making some big plays to make it hard for the Chargers offense to move the Football with any consistency.

Towards the end of the first half, the Foxes offense, put together another dominant drive to get them to ten yards out from the Goal line. Foxes Quarterback #7 Erin Casey, threw a quick pass to #89 “Jaz” Drewry, who ran off a massive block by fellow Fox, #87 Ashlee West, to run into the end zone untouched for a Touchdown. The Western Foxes were also successful with th 2 point conversion, making the score, Western Foxes 16, Melbourne University Chargers 0, at half time.

The Western Foxes had possession of the ball for the first drive of the second half. A change of personnel didnt effect the Foxes offenses rhythm, with them marching down the field on the back of some good runs from Bantam weight running back #95 Rachel “Dolly” Gedye. This drive culminated with a touchdown pass from #7 Erin Casey to #13 Brietta Patman in the back corner of the end zone. 2 point conversion was unsuccessful. Foxes up on the Chargers 22-0.

Going into the final quarter, the intensity of the Foxes defense was huge, with every player stepping up at one stage or another making massive plays. Linebacker / Defensive End, #24 Alexandra Doumis was on almost everything, with #56 “Scarlett” Barclay, #3 Felicity O’Connor making key tackles and stops at critical times. The experience of #15 Angela Porras and #87 Ashlee West, helped plug any holes and make up for any missed tackles that the newer, less experienced Foxes made. The Chargers offense, desperate to get some points on the board, began trying more daring plays, such as reverses and deep passes, but to no avail, with the Foxes defense holding firm.

The Foxes Defense as a whole was water tight giving the Foxes offense plenty of the football and with great field position.

The Foxes offense was able to capitalise on this, moving the ball in big chunks of yardage as the Chargers Defense began to tire. #95 Rachel “Dolly” Gedye run for massive gains behind Full backs, #33 Kaseyanne Hurley and #78 Aisha “Ish” Ryan, and was able to chalk up two touchdowns, the second, coming off an accidental “Ish” misdirection play! The Final Touchdown of the game came off a play action pass from Foxes Quarterback #7 Erin Casey, that saw #87 Ashlee West wide open on the outside of the field, who then ran it from twenty yards out.

The Western Foxes defeated the Melbourne University chargers 40-0.

The Western Foxes have a Bye next week before taking on the Northern Lady Raiders in Reservoir, Sunday, 27th October at C.H. Sullivan Reserve, Reservoir, 11:00am Kickoff.

We finished the season with 25 women registering and paying fees. Most purchased own equipment, with a few rentals supported by FGLQ and our own team supplies. We purchased training uniforms and game uniforms for the team, and still have a few sets in store for next year.

LOOKING FORWARD: 2013 SEASON

The Western Foxes will continue to operate as the women’s team of the Western Crusaders in 2013. We want to further integrate women’s football into the club, and see increased collaboration between the men’s, women’s and junior’s teams in the coming year. We think there is great opportunity for sponsorship, fundraising and socialising if we approach these activities in a cohesive way across the club.

This collaboration extends to the wider GV community. We would like to support recruitment across the board for the men’s and junior’s team, and become an integrated part of GV’s planning and ongoing activities for promotion.

2013 should see the first year of inter-club women’s 7-a-side football in Victoria. The Northern Raiders look highly likely to start a women’s team in 2013 (still to be confirmed, based on discussions with Mario and the Raiders).

Considering we will be moving from an intra-club offense-on-defence scrimmage format to an inter-club 7-a-side format in 2013, we feel confident that two clubs of 10-20 girls would be feasible, including current players and new recruits.

We have also heard whispers of interest in developing a women’s team from the Melbourne Royals and the Bay City Buccaneers, and are aware that the Berwick Miners have been developing a women’s team in conjunction with the LGL (who based out of NSW). I would be keen to collaborate with and support any teams or individuals who are interested in fielding a team for the 2013 women’s season in Spring.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT THIS YEAR

Our goal for the 2012 season was to get Victorian women on the park playing full-kit, full-contact gridiron in a competitive format. We are proud to say that we achieved this goal, and couldn’t have done it without your support. We would especially like to express our gratitude to the WesternCrusaders for helping our dream of women’s football become a reality. We would also like to thank Dan Levin, Sam Weller and Gridiron Victoria for their enthusiastic support for our goals, and the GVOA for all their support in ironing out rules and logistics for our games. We are enthusiastically looking forward to the 2013 season.

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2014 Senior Men’s Preseason

2014 Senior Men's Preseason StartJanuary 29th, 2014

The Western Crusaders, kick of their 2014 senior Men's competition. Training is at our home ground, Henry Turner Reserve South, Corner of Maribyrnong Blv & Farnsworth Ave, Footscray (Behind Victoria University on Ballarat Road, Footscray).
Any new players are most welcome.
Go Cru! We Are One!